SummerSet Arts Festival celebrates Ronald Bog in style

Flying ponies
Artists Ann Blanch, Lynn Ahnen Turnblom, and Sue Williams
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

By Cynthia Knox

On Saturday afternoon, September 15th, hundreds of people poured into Ronald Bog Park on N 175th St. After parking at Meridian Park Elementary, festival attendees walked the partial block to the park entrance and were delighted by the sight of a colorful giant floating turtle clambering off a dock, amazed by fluttering iridescent wings affixed to the Shoreline Ponies sculpture, and charmed by the brightly striped tree socks made by local knitters.

Turtle of My Childhood
Cynthia Knox and Marilyn Roy

Welcomed by the Meridian Park Neighborhood Association tent, visitors then began their self-guided park tour. By the parking lot, a clay turtle mosaic was strung between two trees. This piece was made in partnership with Shoreline Children's Center, and Anne and Paddy Guthrie – local turtle aficionados.

Mosaic by Anne and Paddy Guthrie

Moving further into the park, jellyfish costumes and Marshmallow Lane beckoned those who wanted to play. Karla Johnson, children's storyteller and writer, captivated young people with fun and games at this station.

Labyrinth by the Shoreline Children's Center
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Next stop was the labyrinth walk created with braided cloth rope also made by Shoreline Children's Center youth and supplemented with an assortment of painted sticks. Adventurous kids donned jellyfish costumes and raced around the twisting labyrinth path.

Dripline by the Unearth Collective
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

A step beyond, beautifully subtle, painted leaves swayed with the breeze. The piece, Dripline, was handpainted the day before by The Unearth Collective, one of the sculptors featured in the festival. 

An homage to the lake's history as a Cranberry Bog
Created by Mary Coss
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Moving down towards the water's edge, one encountered three shapely hypertufa vessels filled with water and floating cranberries, created by Mary Coss – an homage to the area's past as a cranberry bog. Also floating was Coss's giant seashell, entitled Blood and Water, anchored near shore with a soundtrack that alternately soothed and provoked thoughts of family and times past.

Fly By Night by Carol Milne

While at the shelter one could look across the lake and make out the shape and color of Carol Milne's Fly by Night – Red Dragonfly piece. This piece has the added advantage of being lit by night, adding an extra dimension to the sculpture exhibition that continued for another week.

Art-making demonstrations included: Plein Air painters Ann Blanch, Marsha Lippert, Billie Torbenson, Chinese Painting by Fred Wong of Shoreline-LFP Arts Council, and Fiber Artist Meghan Lancaster. 

Half of the Hula Hoop Twins
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Hula-Hooper twins Dani and Desiree captivated the crowd with lessons and lent out dozens of hoops in early afternoon. 

The Children's Art Shelter bustled with activity
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

The Children's Art Shelter at Ronald Bog was overflowing with art projects including nature crowns and bubble painting. Andy Beveroth, lead art instigator danced around, supporting children and parents with their creative expression. Handmade flags made by Spartan Rec summer campers fluttered over the proceedings.

Members of the Duwamish Tribe sang and danced
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Mid-afternoon brought the Duwamish Tribe's beautiful and moving culture-sharing with “Singing Feet”, an award winning multi-generational traditional dance, drum, and singing group. This was followed by a historical talk about the area by Vicki Stiles, Director, Shoreline Historical Museum. For plant and tree lovers, Dick Decker, Boni Biery, and Dick Nicholson offered tours and native plantings information.

There was music everywhere
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

And then there was the music – so engaging! Elena DeLisle Perry organized a wonderful selection of acoustic “old-time” music, bluegrass, jazz, country, Creole/Cajun, Renaissance, classical, and the music of Tierra Caliente, Mexico. that fit so well with the park theme. Locals Ed Goldstick, The Peturka Family Band, WhistlePig, and Brittain Barber, and others played in four tents around the park for 3 ½ hours. Along the way there was a Family Dance in the meadow called by Amy Carroll.

Arboretum - weaving with natural materials
Photo by Dorrena Ortega

The 2012 SummerSet Arts Festival: Celebrating Ronald Bog was funded through a City of Shoreline Neighborhood mini-grant through Meridian Park Neighborhood Association. Other sponsors included: Shoreline Arts Council, Walgreens, Starbucks, Haggen Market, Home Depot, Cleanscapes, Aurora Rents, Aurora Church of the Nazarene, and Shoreline Children's Center. If you are interested in creating next year's festival, please contact Cynthia Knox.